Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2013 Houzz
Dining room - eclectic medium tone wood floor dining room idea in Seattle with beige walls

Photography: Nat Rea
Bedroom - coastal medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Providence with white walls

This Australian-inspired new construction was a successful collaboration between homeowner, architect, designer and builder. The home features a Henrybuilt kitchen, butler's pantry, private home office, guest suite, master suite, entry foyer with concealed entrances to the powder bathroom and coat closet, hidden play loft, and full front and back landscaping with swimming pool and pool house/ADU.

Inspiration for a transitional white two-story brick exterior home remodel in Los Angeles with a mixed material roof

Audrey Hall
Example of a trendy bathroom design in Other

Photo: Marni Epstein-Mervis © 2018 Houzz
Open concept kitchen - industrial l-shaped painted wood floor and black floor open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, green backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Concrete Bar finished with tile
Inspiration for a small coastal single-wall porcelain tile and brown floor wet bar remodel in Miami with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete countertops and white backsplash

Mike Van Tessel
Urban carpeted and blue floor bedroom photo in New York

The client’s coastal New England roots inspired this Shingle style design for a lakefront lot. With a background in interior design, her ideas strongly influenced the process, presenting both challenge and reward in executing her exact vision. Vintage coastal style grounds a thoroughly modern open floor plan, designed to house a busy family with three active children. A primary focus was the kitchen, and more importantly, the butler’s pantry tucked behind it. Flowing logically from the garage entry and mudroom, and with two access points from the main kitchen, it fulfills the utilitarian functions of storage and prep, leaving the main kitchen free to shine as an integral part of the open living area. An ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Royal Oaks Design Designer: Kieran Liebl From: Oakdale, Minnesota

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard concrete paver and rectangular lap pool remodel in Dallas

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Troy Thies, Photography | MDS Remodeling, Home Remodel | Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For info about our work: design@oharainteriors.com

Architect: Christopher Simmonds Architect
Large contemporary black two-story mixed siding flat roof idea in Ottawa

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray split-level mixed siding exterior home remodel in Ottawa

Gordon Gregory
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor kids' bedroom remodel in New York

Joe Fletcher
Bedroom - contemporary concrete floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with white walls

Example of a mountain style open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Denver with white walls, a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace

Country l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Mel
Example of a trendy straight open staircase design in Seattle